Thursday, May 15, 2008

my new home


front of the house


looking into the right side my bedroom


looking into the left side of my bedroom


my fireplace


view of rest of my room from the fireplace


same, just taller


closet on the left


view into eat-in kitchen from my bedroom


view of living room from my bedroom


back patio/driveway


backyard and patio/driveway


view of eat-in kitchen from kitchen


back corner of house (my bedroom) and driveway


kitchen


bathroom

Monday, April 28, 2008

Big Brother Application

So I attempted to fill out an application for the tv show Big Brother. I didn't meet the deadline, but I thought some of the questions were somewhat insightful. So here are a few of the questions and my answers:

Do you have a temper? How often do you lose your temper? What provokes you?
Yes, I have a temper. It comes out rarely and only when my side of the story is ignored or when I am not given an opportunity to explain myself.

How do you deal with someone who intimidates you?
I make jokes about it.

If you could hold any political office, what would it be and why?
Actually, I would rather be a campaign speech writer because I like the idea of swaying a large crowd of people with words.

Who is your hero and why?
Andy Warhol - He started out as a graphic designer, rose to international acclaim, and didn't give a shit about what anyone thought of him. His character, the role he played, was absolute media genius. Plus, he was almost assassinated and that says a lot about a person. I mean, the difference between an assassination and a murder is publicity, right?

Finish this sentence: "My life's motto is..."
"... to never settle for less than I deserve."

may-august concert schedule

Here are the Nashville shows/performances I plan on seeing May-August 2008:

(courtesy of www.pollstar.com and www.zaniesnash.com)

5/17 - Jeff Dunham - Andrew Jackson Hall
5/21 - Kids in the Hall - Ryman
5/23 - Josh Blue - Zanies
5/27 - Augustana - City Hall

6/01 - Emery & The Almost - Rcktwn
6/10 - Jim Breuer - Zanies
6/16 - Mike Birbiglia - Zanies
6/20 - Marc Broussard - Cannery Ballroom
6/25 - Jon Reep - Zanies

7/10 - Charlie Murphy - Zanies
7/24 - James Blunt - Sommet Center

8/08 - Daniel Tosh - Zanies

a not so creative post...

here are some movies i want to buy:

juno
cloverfield
i am legend
sweeney todd
lucky number slevin
no country for old men

Creative Writing

Here is something I have been writing for a while. Read if you want. Just promise me one thing: you won't just read half of it.

It's very long, but I think it's worth your time. However, I guess you'll decide that for yourself. Here:

*****

Leaves fall around you as the dew dries its eyes,
deftly slipping away after claiming its prize.
Pandora’s box opens as confusion begins,
a game of hide and seek where no one wins.
Adrenaline rushed minds climb the ladder to the top,
but afraid of new heights unable to stop.
Fishing open waters, where public knowledge ran dry;
playing your hardest only to tie.
All in the family, heart on my sleeve
a stone’s throw away, yet too far to see.
Rendezvous, what a perfect view...
You’d understand if you only knew.
One bad mistake and no second date
a bullet from the gun belonging to fate.
Good with the bad more times than not
as pre-determined dreams fill the empty slots.
Corduroy dreams with splits in the seams,
and pillow talk days of receiving no praise.
All things are fair in love and war
– says the perfect tomorrow and the perfect score.


Seeing the world through a multi-colored lens
as a stalwart castle impossible to defend.
Light in the tunnel, a dimly lit sky,
hanging by a thread, a twinkle in your eye.
Against the ropes, the ball in your court;
shooting the basket, you came up short.
Battle hymns, battle scars, but no trophies to boast.
Cheers, drink up... it’s your wedding day toast.
Walk it off, shake it off, a goodnight sleep,
awaken refreshed to sow what you reap.
I planted the seeds, now bring in the harvest.
Here’s to the dumbest, here’s to the smartest.
Two o’clock chiming, four hours to go.
I hope you’re well rested, it’s time for the show.
Limelight, spotlight, and moonlight fades,
all your dirty secrets pulled behind the shades.
Malicious deceptions behind humble panache,
clean the blood-stained clothing left in the wash.
Tide rushing out, with the smut gone to sea
Apples never fall to far from the tree.
With nothing to win, but no reason to lose,
take what you get. Beggars shouldn’t choose.


Taking my chances, so genuinely crude.
Slain for the martyrs and used as their food.
Tomorrow appears brighter, your future’s ahead.
Fork placed in the road, but spoon’s left for dead.


Candy striper, pied piper, fiddler on the roof.
Living in a world with fools gone aloof.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
in a world where facts are no longer proof.
Pins drop, crickets chirp as your jokes fail,
while they shovel their sand into their pail.
Joking facade, laugh a minute...
every angle’s bad news however you spin it.
Bible belt holding their pants up tight
as they hide behind verses unwilling to fight.
True life documentaries dictated by scripts
and hundreds of shipwrecks, people stranded adrift.
Losing its luster, sun falls down low
in a world of people unwilling to glow.


If this is your “Real World” I say you can have it.
Opportunity in my hand, how dare you grab it.
Mountain top highs, lowest of lows,
all your purest thoughts dressed up for show.
20/20 vision, but just in hindsight;
try as you may and try as you might.
Dead man’s hand hidden under the table,
the horse led to water gets left in the stable.
An idea fashioned, now charging a toll
as you try to cross a river now trimmed in gold.
With the bitter pill swallowed, that spoonful so sweet,
it’s back to the pillow for a goodnight sleep.


Headaches, blind dates, this takes the cake.
Is this your “Real World” for Heaven’s sake?
Salt and pepper flavor on bland food served cold;
nitty gritty business, so do what you’re told.
Thoughts wander aimlessly, no longer can stay.
For fear of persecution, they’re hidden away.
Chalkboard dreams motivate false themes,
oppressed bye a world validating its teams.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best,
keeping your heart safe inside your chest.
Whirlpools of happenstance, patience worn thin,
dizzier and dizzier despite my chagrin.
Breathtaking anxiety, but it happens all wrong.
What a horrible ending to such a beautiful song.
With all this in mind, settle down for the night,
as Pandora’s box is hidden from sight.


Modern day camouflage, briefcase in hand,
slipping through the crowd like a grain of sand.
No names with faces, just people unfurled;
unidentified flying objects in this “Real World.”
In a world where nothing is quite what it seems,
anonymity prevails synonymous with dreams.
How ‘bout a toast to drown all your sorrows?
Drink for today’s, die for tomorrow’s.
Time ticks by, shot clock winds down
as you throw up a shot with a disgusting frown.
Hungry for riches, we desperately seek
a world with superheroes unable to bleed.


We let this happen, allow it to work...
abrasive intent disguised with a smirk.
Global recognition is our only concern
as we stand in line awaiting our turn.
Five minutes of fame, step up to the mike.
Your ticket to stardom or another look-alike?
So cynically blithe, such lewd arrogance
masquerading as an intimate romance.
Fit as a fiddle with nothing to lose,
out on the prowl missing all the cues.
Tongue lashes, heat flashes, fire from the mouth;
the cancerous storm moves further south.


Dreams disappear, reality bites.
Get what you deserve only out of spite.
Every rose has its thorn, every dog its day.
To each his own, or so they say.
The tough never go when the going gets tough.
It’s too hard to find the diamond in the rough.
Always settling for second or third best,
always failing the aptitude test.
Overlooked concerns and sweat on your brow
won’t get you too far in this one horse town.
Pack up your bags, head south for the winter.
Remove the log from your eye just to point out my splinter.
A modern day Casanova, or so I’m not told.
Going once, going twice, to the highest bidder sold.
Serenaded by car horns in a rush to be free.
It’s what this world is learning to be.
Hundreds of victims and no survivors,
working not for their bosses, but for their slave drivers.


With each breath one step closer, every step one breath lost,
rehearsing the lines, debating the cost.
Regretting it later, now taking a stand,
just to end up drowning again on dry land.
Scribbling thoughts down on paper, blood flowing black,
pen uplifted prone for attack.
Ink quickly fading, as the pen soon runs dry.
People still scrambling for their piece of the pie.


With nothing quite settled, no problems resolved,
as new life begins, old ones dissolve.
With new crops to harvest, grown from those seeds,
Pandora’s box closes, still yearning with need.


Sunrise, sunset, a new day passed,
and you're left with memories that will not last.

pictures from my birthday in Nashville



















Barcelona and Rome | Christmas 2006

December 2006

our first and only full day in barcelona, we went over the entire city. we woke up sorta early... around 9 or so and had breakfast.

it was horrible.

then we showered and set out to greet the world with a smile. or a yawn?

our first stop was La Rambla. we shopped and walked down the entire street and took pictures and laughed at the street perfomers. it was quite nice.

then we went to Sagrada Familia. it was unbelievable. pictures to come. in the meantime, look it up... you'll be impressed.

next we took the subway back to the hotel and tried to find the Picasso Museum. we got lost.

very lost.

but we stumbled into some amazing sites like the Mediterranean port... very beautiful sunset.



we finally made it to the museum about 6 or so... and so did the rain.

inside we... well, i... marvelled at the drawings and paintings of Picasso. wow.

we left and walked back to the subway station and took it back to La Rambla, and found this nasty little pita shop. it was gross. but it was warm. and tasted like food... sorta.

sleep.

awake.
food.
bus to airport.
wait.
wait.
security.
tj's passport was stolen. by security.

we confronted the guards... and magically it appeared on the conveyor belt.

planed to rome.

i died on the plane. out like a light.

got to rome, went to eat and shop before checking into our hotel.

i had the best meal ever. short penne pasta with salmon sauce. corvo wine is incredible. no it's immaculate.

checked into our hotel and then went to the colosseum. oh my good god... it was remarkable. pictures don't do it justice, and they even had a christmas tree outside of it. we walked around and took an insane amount of pictures. every angle. every scale. every pose. you name it.

ate lunch at this nice ristorante (that's italian) that overlooked the colosseum. had more wine. primitivo. better than corvo.

came back from the colosseum, a bit lighter than before (wine goes to your head)... and crashed hard.

woke up early and trained 4 hours to the north western coast of italy. cinque terre.

it's comprised of five cities: Monterosso, Veratza, Corniglia, Manarola, ?????

we went to Monterosso and Manarola. by train. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING AS BEAUTIFUL.



we took sooooooo many pictures and i did not want to leave.

i will definitely be going back some day. some day...

would you go with me?

i'm back in the hotel now and i can't decide if i want to go to the vatican tomorrow for mass on christmas day. there is a red alert out for terrorism strikes... subways, trains, vatican center... i probably won't. perhaps i will and everything will be fine. it is christmas after all.

merry christmas from rome.

until next time...